Dozens of super PACs, dark-money and special interest groups have pumped more than $50 million into Chicago-area congressional races in the run-up to the March 17 primary — and voters are understandably confused.
Major dollars have also flowed into statehouse races as a host of super PACs look to boost their preferred candidates and slam the ones that don’t serve their interests. They often come with unassuming names that do not reflect their true purpose.
Federal law doesn’t require these political action committees to reveal all of their contributors until after the primary, but the Sun-Times is keeping track of who’s behind these groups. Here’s an A-Z glossary of the groups that are trying to influence your vote, with financial figures reported as of Thursday morning by the Federal Election Commission.
314 Action Fund
Focused on electing Democrats with backgrounds in science, spending $409,000 in support of Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary race and $120,000 to boost physician Thomas Fisher in the 7th District primary.
Affordable Chicago Now!
One of several super PACs with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to a WBEZ review. Spending nearly $4.4 million supporting Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller in the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary.
Americans For Prosperity
Conservative group has spent $130,000 to help support Republican candidates for the Illinois General Assembly.
American Future
Backed by the sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel. Spent more than $2.5 million in 10 Chicago-area state legislative races, and the companies seek to block municipalities from taxing their industry.
Chicago Progressive Partnership
AIPAC-affiliated group spending $266,000 in opposition of Kat Abughazaleh in the 9th District Democratic primary.
Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC
Progressive group that has spent nearly $547,000 supporting Biss in the 9th District race.
DLGA PAC
Affiliated with the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, spending almost $222,000 to support Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for U.S. Senate.
Elect Democratic Women Action Fund
Formed to support pro-choice women running for Congress, which has endorsed many AIPAC candidates. Spending more than $500,000 supporting state Sen. Laura Fine in the 9th District Democratic primary.
Elect Chicago Women (ECW)
Tied to AIPAC, spending $5.8 million supporting Fine and opposing Biss in the 9th, plus $3.9 million supporting former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary.
Fairshake
Pro-cryptocurrency PAC with connections to supporters of President Donald Trump in past cycles. Spending more $9.8 million against Stratton for Senate, almost $2.5 million against state Rep. La Shawn Ford in the 7th Congressional District Democratic primary; and $817,000 against state Sen. Robert Peters in the 2nd District race.
Illinois Future PAC
Created to support Stratton, spending $11.8 million including a $5 million boost from her longtime running mate, billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker.
J Street Action Fund
Progressive Israel advocacy group supporting candidates who have called the war in Gaza a genocide. Spent nearly $98,000 supporting Biss in the 9th.
Jobs and Democracy PAC
PAC supporting regulation of artificial intelligence, spending $1 million against ex-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 2nd District Democratic primary.
Justice Democrats PAC
PAC supporting progressive Democrats; spending $113,500 opposing Bean and supporting activist Junaid Ahmed in the 8th District race.
Leading Democracy Inc.
Spent $262,500 supporting former FBI agent Phil Andrew in the 9th District race, with self-reported support from an out-of-state relative of Andrew and several suburban friends.
Making Our Tomorrow
Backed by Facebook’s parent company, Meta, and spending $750,000 in support of four state legislative candidates as the Big Tech giant looks to push back on Gov. Pritzker’s proposed social media tax.
Medicare For All
Supports candidates who believe health care is a human right. Spending $25,000 for Ahmed in the 8th District and $98,000 for Biss in the 9th.
National Nurses United For Patient Protection
Nurses union PAC spending $100,000 supporting Peters in the 2nd District race.
New Democrat Majority
Supports centrist, pro-business, fiscally moderate Democrats; spending $935,000 to support Bean in the 8th District race.
Progressive Values Illinois
Backed by supporters of U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for Senate. Spent $448,000 supporting U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and opposing Stratton for Senate.
Protect Progress
Part of the pro-crypto Fairshake group that has spent $557,000 to support Bean in the 8th District, along with $427,000 against Stratton and for Kelly in the Senate race.
Stronger Illinois PAC
Unclear what donors are funding the PAC, or what its purpose is. Spent $313,000 supporting real estate executive Jason Friedman in the 7th District Democratic primary.
The Impact Fund
Political arm of Indian American Impact, spending $1 million supporting Kelly and opposing Stratton for Senate.
Think Big
Democratic arm of the pro-AI PAC Leading the Future, funded by OpenAI stakeholders. Spent $1.4 million for Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 2nd District and $1.1 million for Bean in the 8th.
United Democracy Project (UDP)
AIPAC-affiliated group spending $5 million in the 7th District race, mostly in support of Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin in the 7th District, but also about $60,000 against Friedman.
United We Can
A PAC affiliated with the influential Service Employees International Union, throwing in $415,000 to support Anthony Driver in the 7th Congressional District Democratic primary. Driver is executive director of SEIU’s Illinois State Council.
Working Families Party PAC
Progressives PAC spending $100,000 for Robert Peters in the 2nd District race.